One of the biggest mistakes first-time founders make:
Over the last 2.5 years, there have been plenty of highs and lows as I’ve built / scaled Tweetjoy. At times, like when a client churns or my pipeline looks thin, it’s easy to get really stressed. But when I zoom out and see how many great things I’ve accomplished (milestones I hit & expectations I exceeded), I realize there’s so much more worth celebrating than worrying about. When building your first business, there’s a sense of paranoia that the whole thing could disappear tomorrow. Now that I'm a few years in, I realize that a bit of paranoia is healthy, but too much of it is unhealthy, and often misplaced.
When I started TweetJoy, the goal was to rebuild my life with intention. Not only have I spent more meaningful time with my wife and son than I ever could working a 9-5, but I’ve also significantly increased my income and earning potential by designing a business around one thing I do well. Before Tweetjoy, I was a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Now that I’m focused on one skill, the right clients seek me out. They hire me at a fraction of a full-time employee’s cost and gain from someone who’s worked with dozens of founders.
I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Sure, I wish I’d started sooner, but every step brought me exactly to where I am today. I'm sharing this because if you’re scared, hesitant, or currently walking a similar path, remember that your journey (like mine) is 1000s of steps. Each step brings you closer to where you want to be. Celebrate the small wins and enjoy the moment.
That’s what entrepreneurship is all about.